Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
April 3, 2020 - Volume 41, Issue 29
Clemens Crossing Elementary School
Sonia Hurd, Assistant Principal
Website: cces.hcpss.org
Location: 10320 Quarterstaff Road, Columbia, MD, United States
Phone: 410-294-8129
Facebook: facebook.com/ClemensCrossingElementary
Twitter: @hcpss_cces
From School Administration
It was so nice to see everyone, even if it was online. Your teachers are excited to learn about our new resources and methods to teach and learn in our new virtual world. Additionally, all teachers spent time in a meeting online to learn from curricular specialists about the instructional plan for the week of April 20 (and possibly beyond).
Please note that teachers will be celebrating the spring holidays for an adjusted spring break on April 9, 10, and 13. They may not respond to email communications during that time.
Earlier in the week, teachers reached out to students and parents this week by email. Please respond back to them so we know you are there and receiving the communication from them.
To bridge the gap before Phase 3 distance learning begins, a set of resources is posted to the HCPSS Continuity of Learning website. These resources are organized by grade and/or course. Multiple languages are available. These additional materials will not be collected or graded.
Phase 3 begins for elementary schools on April 20th. Please also review the information below to help you learn about the plan and get yourself oriented with our Learning Management Platform, Canvas.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to me at ecosentino@hcpss.org or 410-294-8129.
Mr. Cosentino
NEW INFORMATION
Mrs. Rogers' Office Hours
Dear CCES Students and Families,
I hope you are doing well. I have been thinking about you and missing you! I look forward to reconnecting with you!
I will have office hours available daily from 9:30am - 11:30am and from 12:00pm - 1:00pm starting Tuesday, April 14th. I will be scheduling appointments to meet during that time. We can meet virtually (I’d love to see you) or on the phone. Please use this link to request your appointment. Click here to schedule a time with Mrs. Rogers
The School Counseling Department will also be making announcements and posting college, career, and our class lessons on Canvas in the upcoming weeks.
I look forward to talking with you in the upcoming days and weeks. Please know that I am still here to talk with you. Stay safe and well.
Fondly,
Mrs. Rogers
School Counselor
Spring Pictures
Strawbridge gave us codes for you to use to view your child's picture. We are working to merge your email addresses with the individualized codes.
Hopefully, that email notification will be in your inbox soon.
Yearbook Orders
Don’t forget to order your yearbook! Since we are unable to collect paper order forms at this time, yearbooks must be ordered online. The cost is $20 each. Go to: https://www.strawbridge.net/ and type in the code: YB100057 to order yours.
Deadline for orders is April 15.
Deadline to order - April 15, 2020
CCES PTA Nominating Committee
The Clemens Crossing Elementary School PTA Nominating Committee is looking for volunteers to chair several positions during the 2020-2021 academic year. We would love to tell you more about them! Many do not require regular PTA meeting attendance and there are varying levels of time commitment. Please consider joining in the fun and supporting our great school! Click here to see openings.
Frequently Asked Questions
The COVID-19 FAQ section of the website has been expanded and is being updated regularly with additional answers to questions. Please visit the FAQ page on a regular basis for additional information.
Supporting Learning at Home
A new resource to help students and parents adjust to continuing learning from home is provided on the HCPSS Continuity of Learning website. Suggestions are provided for establishing a schedule, creating an environment conducive to learning, and transitioning to distance learning.
Student Device Distribution
Families who requested a device, either through the survey or directly from a staff member or interpreter, will be emailed directly with details on where and when devices can be picked up. Families who have not yet completed the Student Technology Survey are still encouraged to do so. Please be assured that our process for deploying devices follows social distancing guidelines to assure health and safety for families and staff. More information about student devices is provided online.
As a reminder, students will not need their device until April 20th, when on-line learning begins for elementary students.
Check Your Canvas Notifications
Parents/guardians should check your Canvas notification settings to ensure you are receiving announcements, assignments, and messages from teachers.
Directions on updating your parent profile and notification settings are available online.
Parents/guardians unfamiliar with Canvas may find it helpful to review the features in this Canvas Orientation.
Student hcpss.me Access
Over the past few weeks, Mr. Cosentino helped numbers of families by providing student usernames and passwords in order to access hcpss.me. You can continue to email him to request your current username and password if you need help.
Grab and Go Meals - UPDATED
HCPSS is providing free Grab-N-Go meals through April 24 to anyone age 18 and under and/or any HCPSS student, regardless of age, at locations countywide. Meals are available from
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., weekdays. Participants will be given a snack, lunch, and dinner for that day, as well as a breakfast for the following day, and are encouraged to bring a bag to carry home meals each day. Friday distributions at school locations also will include weekend meals. Parents have the option of collecting meals for their children, who do not need to be present.
There will be no meal service April 10 or 13; meals for those days will be distributed Thursday, April 9, with instructions for storage and preparation.
SECAC Awards
The Special Education Citizens Advisory Council (SECAC) Annual Awards have been postponed until October. Families can continue to nominate their child's fabulous educators, related service providers, administrators, inclusive programs, and student leaders at https://forms.gle/DD6phamcmPhGxzU79
3rd Quarter Grading
Details about 3rd Quarter grading can be found on the HCPSS website.
INFORMATION WORTH REPEATING
Paw Print Press - DUE TODAY, APRIL 3
Paw Print Press Packets for Grades 3-5 are due on Friday, April 3. Please drop them off at
6646 Windsor Court (front porch). Instructions for completing the kits were emailed to families this week. Please contact Dani Gardner (president@clemenscrossingpta.org) if you have any questions.
A Reminder: CCES Playground and Blacktop Area is Closed
As Springtime approaches, we know that our students and community members are eager to play on our blacktop and/or playground, however, due to COVID-19 restrictions, these areas are not available to community members. Please inform your elementary, middle, and high school aged children of this mandate. We appreciate your assistance with this.
All HCPSS athletic practices and games are canceled until schools reopen. While the business of the school system continues remotely, all schools and office buildings are closed, including playgrounds, fields, basketball courts and other outdoor spaces.
Reading with the Cougar Continues!
We know you are reading incredible books! Tell us what you are reading and one thing you like about the book. Maybe others will want to read that book too. Share it with the rest of the Clemens Crossing community by taking a picture of yourself reading with the Cougar.
Share it one of two ways:
You can email it to Mr. Cosentino at ecosentino@hcpss.org to share on Twitter and Facebook. You can also post on Twitter by including our Twitter handle @hcpss_cces and hashtag #CCESCougarsRead. Then we will re-tweet your Tweet.
Twitter: Handle @hcpss_cces; Hashtag #CCESCougarsRead
Facebook: facebook.com/ClemensCrossingElementary
Digital Resources on hcpss.me
Acess the great resources through https://hcpss.me/:
- Canvas: HCPSS’ learning management system
- MackinVIA: Provides students access to ebooks and databases
- HC Library: Provides students access to online resources and content through the Howard County Library System
- Clever: Provides students with access to approved online apps, browsable by content area
- Find DreamBox by clicking the Clever button link.
- G Suite: Allows students to create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations
- WeVideo: Allows students to engage in video production
- Office 365: Allows students to create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, as well as email for secondary students
- Typing Agent: Students can continue to work on Typing Agent at home. This provides great practice to improve keyboarding skills.
If you need your child's login, please email Mr. Cosentino at ecosentino@hcpss.org. I will get the login information.
DreamBox Online Math Practice
What is DreamBox? DreamBox offers over 2,000 lessons with millions of paths through the curriculum. To engage students exactly where they are, it adjusts in real-time, adapting hints, level of difficulty, pace, and sequence.
Access DreamBox through hcpss.me under the Clever link.
Counseling Services for Students and Families
The COVID-19 pandemic has made this an especially stressful time for many, especially those already impacted by mental health concerns. In-person assistance may be limited to try to slow the spread of the virus. However, help is still available online, over the phone, and face-to-face when needed. Please also note that Medicaid is covering temporary telehealth sessions during the state of emergency.
If you or your family need mental health supports, please contact your current health care provider. If you don’t have or cannot reach your current provider, you can find providers in the directories linked below.
If you have an immediate need for help with depression, suicidal thoughts, or other serious mental health issues, please contact:
- Grassroots Crisis Intervention team at 410-531-6677
- The Maryland Crisis Hotline: Dial 211 and then choose option 1
- The Crisis Text Line: Text 741741 and a trained counselor will respond
- The National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255
Additional resources:
- Directory of Behavioral Health Services in Howard County
- Directory of Behavioral Health Services for Youth in Howard County
- Howard County Health Department Network of Care for Behavioral Health
- Howard County Bureau of Behavioral Health
- HCPSS Mental Health & Wellness Resources
- Teen Health Matters
- Centers for Disease Control Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19
Free Internet for Eligible Families from Comcast
To help connect more families to the internet at home, Comcast is offering two months of free internet to new Internet Essential customers. More information
Science Fair
CCES Science Fair 2020
UPDATED INFORMATION: Since the science fair is scheduled for the end of May, we still plan to have our annual science fair. If school is canceled into May/June, then we will plan on having some type of virtual science fair. So, please feel free to continue to work on your science fair project. We will have it one way or another.
Your child is invited to participate in this year’s Science Fair on Thursday, May 28 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. during our Schoolwide Showcase. The Showcase will highlight the remarkable things our extraordinary students have done this year at Clemens Crossing Elementary School. The Science Fair, GT Enrichment Fair, PTA Reflections, and Classroom Displays are all part of the annual showcase.
If your child is interested in doing a Science Fair Collection, Investigation, or Invention at home, please download the corresponding attachment below. Students may do projects individually or as a group. Once your child has identified a project, please complete the online, “Intent to Participate form.” Students who elect to participate will have their name read on the morning announcements and their name printed and hung on a hallway wall display. Directions on where and when to bring in the projects will be shared individually with participants and in future Cougar Comments and by email correspondences. We are excited to highlight the commitment shown and the hard work done by the CCES students this year. Many thanks for all of your support at home and in the building this year.
Science Fair COLLECTION (K-2 only)
Science Fair INVESTIGATION (K-5)
Health Coverage
Save the Date - Open House 2020
Kindergarten Open House
Friday, August 21, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
First Grade through Fifth Grade
Friday, August 21, 2020 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
We are still working on logistics for Back-to-School Nights and will notify the community in the Spring.